It might be disorganized but it’s full of delicious tea!! :) Now you can do before and after pics. I wish I had taken a pic of my tea drawer when it was still filled with bagged tea only. That was before I switched to loose tea and kicked half of the bags out of there… lol

OK, after a year on Steepster, I’m showing my tea stuff…all of it!http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDUFoZ5 The first Picture is my Puer shelf…there are 8 photo’s including my cupboard, my tea on a tray. All the gear.
I AM A TEANERD!

Make sure you keep a heads up for vendors free samples. Look for information on Teavivre’s free sample program which most people here have received at some time (including me). Often the offers are here in the discussion boards so keep and eye open for what’s new. Ordering online, some vendors offer more free samples than others. Swaps with other steepsters increases your stash and experience.

I’ve certainly got the swap part down (8 packages sent out this week alone!). I’ll check out Teavivre since I don’t know much about them yet. And still looking for good free sample vendors. I’ve ordered from Della Terra, New Mexico Tea Co., 52Teas, Tao of Tea,& my local Mad Hat Tea Co. and have yet to get a free sample from any of them (so disappointing!). Honestly the only one to send me a free sample has been Laurnent from Nina’s and I haven’t even bought anything from them yet! They are just sending me free samples because they are awesome! Thanks for the advice though, I’m certainly learning as I go :)

Butiki is one of the best for samples (if not the best!) and all the flavors are natural. I have some Taiwanese Black Mountain Tea coming that is one of the best Black tea’s I’ve ever tasted. Wild and sweet! The owner Stacy always asks what sample tea’s do you want to try and tucks some into your order. She’s fantastic.
Verdant tea always puts in a sample and handwritten note. The tea’s are excellent! Kally Tea, Steapshoppe all give samples. Whispering pines gives samples.
After a bit, companies will contact you if you regularly review tea.

July you say … plans may be able to be made … I have not been to Colorado in years although my son wants to move there soon. I have many reasons to come! I have another friend who lives in the area as well. :) So many wonderful reasons!
Do you have a link to the festival by any chance?

Az,not sure whats listed yet but it’s held at and around the Dushanbe Tea House in Boulder. The classes are worth taking. I took an oolong class for 2 hours and got pretty tea drunk! $15 for the class. Same with cooking with tea and included a gourmet lunch. Free tastings are everywhere from vendors (many you know). Not on my computer right now…

Aww, so sad! I got all excited because a bunch of my family and I will be vacationing in Colorado in mid-July, so I thought I might be able to swing by the festival… but it takes place about a week and a half after we’ll have left. So close, and yet so far…

Bonnie I completely understand. I would love to have all my goodies spread out – I have so many pretty tea cups sitting in the basement – they are safer there. I just took one out and decided I had to start using it and enjoying it!
I have used the three drawer system before but then had to arrange other furniture which cost me to lose the spot for that. Its always this evolving process isn’t it!?

Azzrian – I have to ask, what is that ice pick looking thing on the tray? I’m not sure if it’s a thermometer or one of those knife/pick things I’ve heard you need for puerh. I’ve seen it now in both your’s and Bonnie’s pictures. Lol.

Hoo boy. My partner and I are moving from a spacious duplex to a tiny 2 br trailer on a lake (we’re calling it a cottage, thank you). We’re paring down on everything, luckily she is not even considering asking me to pare down on my tea. :love: Anyway, I would take any and all advice on where and how to stash my tea. I have it in tins, original bags, sample sizes, ziplocs, and Mason jars! I’d be willing to put it all in uniform whatever to make it work.

If you have to, storage ottomans are one of the best ways to store things you use but want to keep out of sight (also handy if you have animals and don’t want them poking around in your tea). I’m a big advocate of having furniture that multi-tasks, because I too live in a tiny space. Good luck! I might think of some more suggestions later.